Chapter 70
Olivia's POV
The house felt emptier than I expected. Even though there were still people around, the absence of my mother hung in the air like a dense fog, clinging to the walls and the spaces between us.
The quiet was suffocating, and yet, every sound felt too loud. I wandered through the rooms aimlessly, trying to sort through the clutter of thoughts, emotions, and grief that had taken over since the funeral.
It was in the small study, tucked away in a drawer, that I found it – a small velvet box with a simple ribbon tied around it.
My heart jumped into my throat as I lifted the box, recognizing it immediately. My mother’s handwriting graced the top, a simple “For my daughter” written in her elegant script.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what I would find. My fingers trembled as I untied the ribbon and opened the box.
Inside was a pendant, simple, but beautiful. A delicate silver heart, its surface shining faintly in the lamp light. Beneath the pendant was a letter, carefully folded, with more of my mother’s writing.
My Dearest Olivia,
If you are reading this, it means I am no longer by your side, but my love for you endures in every beat of your heart. I want you to know how proud I am of the woman you’ve become: strong, compassionate, and unyielding even in the face of doubt.
This pendant is a symbol of your strength and the boundless capacity of your heart. Never forget that your empathy is not a weakness but your greatest gift (aside from being so wonderfully stubborn).
It allows you to see what others cannot, to feel what others bury, and to bridge divides that seem impossible. Embrace it, my darling. Trust it. Let it guide you when the world feels unsteady.
You have everything within you to lead with grace and love, but most importantly, to find the happiness you deserve.
Do not let fear silence your heart. Listen to it, trust it, and let it lead you to where you are meant to be.
Forever proud of you,
~Mom
I had to blink back tears as I folded the letter back up, the words wrapping around my heart in a way I couldn’t put into words.
My mother had always been my rock, my guiding light. And now, even though she was gone, it felt as though her presence was still here, urging me to take that next step.
I clutched the pendant in my palm, pressing it to my chest.
My mother had always seen the potential in me, even when I couldn’t see it in myself. She believed in me more than anyone ever had, and now, I was the only one left to carry on that belief.
But there was something else, too, something my mother had known that I hadn’t been ready to confront until now. I was standing on the edge of something I couldn’t keep ignoring.
Ethan. Our bond.
Everything between us was tangled in uncertainties and hesitation. I could feel my heart pulling toward him, despite the fear, despite the doubts that had plagued me for so long.
This gift from my mother – her final message – was a wake-up call. I couldn’t keep waiting for things to fall into place on their own. I had to take control.
If I wanted to know where I stood with Ethan, I had to lay my heart on the line. I had to be honest with him, with myself, and with everything that had been left unsaid between us.
I stood up, the pendant now around my neck, the feel of it grounding me.
It was time to find out where Ethan and I stood. Not as leaders, not as allies, but as the Mates we had the potential to be.
With renewed determination, I moved toward the door, ready to find him, ready to finally step forward.
For once, I wasn’t going to let fear dictate my choices.
I didn’t know how long I’d been standing outside Ethan’s office door, but the polished wood felt like an immovable barrier between the storm inside me and the male I needed to face.
My fingers hovered near the handle, trembling slightly. Every step of this journey had been a battle between my fears and the growing certainty that I couldn’t let those fears win.
My mother’s note came to mind, the encouragement for my wavering confidence, the push that I needed. I took a shaky breath, pushed the door open, and stepped inside.
Ethan stood by his desk, his broad shoulders tense as he poured over some papers. He looked up when I entered, his sharp eyes softening the moment they met mine.
“Olivia?” His voice carried a mix of surprise and concern. “Is everything alright?”
I closed the door behind me, leaning against it for support as I struggled to find the right words.
“No,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “Everything is not alright. But I needed to talk to you.”
Ethan set the papers aside, and came around the desk, his full attention now on me. “I’m listening.”
My hands twisted the pendant I wore around my neck – the last gift from my mother – as I forced myself to meet his gaze. “I’ve been… thinking. A lot. And I need to know where we stand. I’m not scared of what this bond means, or of you, but… I won’t take another rejection.”
He took a step closer, his emotions held like a breath, but his presence was steady, grounding. “I’m sorry I wasn’t ready, Olivia,” he said gently. “I’m sorry I ran when we –”
“That’s just it,” I said, interrupting him from diving into that memory, my voice breaking. “I don’t want to keep running from this.”
I took a steadying breath, “I’ve been holding back, trying to protect myself, and I know you have been too. But all that does is hurt us both. And now, with everything… I don’t want to waste any more time.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened, his eyes searching mine. “Olivia, you don’t have to do this right now –”
“I do,” I interrupted again, stepping closer. “Because if I don’t, I’ll never forgive myself. I’m tired of this tension, Ethan. I’m ready for this bond with you. But if you’re not, that’s okay, but I need to know.”
His hands clenched at his sides, his wolf flickering behind his eyes as he fought to maintain control. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice rough. “Because once we take this step, there’s no going back.”
I reached out, placing a hand over his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heart beneath my palm. “I’m sure,” I said softly. “And I need to know if you feel the same.”
Ethan’s hand covered mine, his touch warm and reassuring. “I do,” he murmured. “More than you know.”
The tension in the room shifted, thickening as I leaned into him, my hand sliding up to cup his cheek. Our gazes locked, and for the first time, I felt nothing but unguarded hope in his eyes.
Without overthinking it, I closed the distance between us, pressing my lips to his.
